ST. PAUL, Minn., March 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Synovis Life Technologies(R), Inc. , a diversified medical device manufacturer, has signed a distribution agreement with S&T(R) AG, a surgical instrument manufacturer based in Neuhausen, Switzerland. Under this agreement, Synovis Micro Companies Alliance (MCA), a wholly owned subsidiary serving the microsurgery market, will become the exclusive distributor of S&T microsurgical instruments in the United States. Synovis MCA will begin selling S&T instruments immediately.
“We are very pleased to announce our partnership with S&T,” said Karen Gilles Larson, president and chief executive officer of Synovis Life Technologies. “Both of our companies are dedicated to providing surgeons with innovative, high-quality microsurgery products that will help achieve excellent patient outcomes. The S&T line of surgical instruments is a strong complement to Synovis MCA’s product offerings, and we are excited about the opportunity to expand our microsurgical product offering. This agreement supports Synovis MCA’s efforts to be ‘the microsurgeon’s most trusted resource.’”
Markus Spingler, general manager of S&T AG, said, “S&T has a global reputation for producing high-quality microsurgical instruments. Synovis MCA, with its customer focus on the microsurgeon, is well positioned to distribute our product line in the U.S. market.”
Synovis MCA’s foundation product is the Coupler, a device used by microsurgeons in several specialties to connect extremely small arteries or veins, without sutures, quickly, easily and with consistently excellent results. Among S&T’s products is a vessel dilator that microsurgeons employ in conjunction with Synovis’ Coupler. The dilator’s tips are used to spread out the inside of the vessel and are extremely gentle to small vessels. In addition to the Coupler, Synovis MCA markets the Neurotube(R) for repair of non-union peripheral nerves, and distributes the Varioscope(R) head-mounted microscope.
About S&T
S&T AG invents, produces and distributes microsurgical instruments of the finest quality. S&T has collaborated with the world’s most prestigious microsurgeons to develop its extensive line of microsurgical instruments, which are sold throughout the world. Additional information on S&T and its products is available at http://www.microsurgery.ch .
About Synovis Life Technologies
Synovis Micro Companies Alliance, Inc., based in Birmingham, Ala., manufactures and distributes microsurgical instruments and is committed to being the microsurgeon’s most trusted resource. Additional information on Synovis MCA and its products is available at http://www.synovismicro.com .
Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a diversified medical device company engaged in developing, manufacturing and bringing to market medical devices for the surgical and interventional treatment of disease. For information on Synovis Life Technologies and its businesses, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.synovislife.com .
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements can be identified by words such as “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Certain important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made herein include the timing of product introductions, outcomes of clinical trials and regulatory submissions, the number of certain surgical procedures performed, the level of orders from contract manufacturing customers, and the effectiveness of the company’s plan to transition to a direct sales force, as well as the other factors found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2005.
Synovis Life Technologies(R), Inc.
CONTACT: Nancy A. Johnson, +1-612-455-1745, or Marian Briggs,+1-612-455-1742, both of Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc.; or Brett Reynolds,CFO of Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., +1-651-796-7300
